Story Highlights

INDIANAPOLIS – Some positions in college football are identified with particular schools. USC has had so many Heisman Trophy winners that it has become Tailback U. Same with quarterbacks at Purdue or linebackers at Penn State.

Poring over NCAA record books might not be your idea of fun, but trust me on this: Bulldogs are all over them.

This current pack of Dawgs did not begin as knockdown shooters but have become that. After losing twice last week to Top-5 opponents, they will try to parlay that accuracy into victory over Georgetown in Tuesday’s Big East game at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

One measurement of a top shooter is reaching the 180 threshold — that is, 50 percent from the field, 40 percent on 3s, 90 percent on free throws. In league play, Martin has made it to 180 off 48-45-87. His league scoring average of 23.5 points a game is exceeded among the seven major conferences by only Oklahoma’s Trae Young (31.3 in the Big 12) and Boston College’s Jerome Robinson (25.5 in the ACC).

Darrin Fitzgerald has the Division I record for most 3s in a season per game. (5.64 in 1987).(Photo11: File photo)

Over six games, Martin has made 28-of-54 3s, or 52 percent. His eight 3s at Villanova have been exceeded three times in Butler history, all by Darrin Fitzgerald in 1987. Two Butler players better known for 3-point shooting, Rotnei Clarke and Pete Campbell, never made as many as 28 in a six-game span.

Martin has also scored 90 points over three games. That has not happened since Matthew Graves totaled 91 (including one 42-point game) in January 1998.

Butler, after making as many as 10 3s three times in the first 20 games, has done so in five of the past six. The Bulldogs are 66-of-155 in that span, shooting 43 percent.

Also, Butler has climbed to seventh in the NCAA in free-throw percentage at 77.8 percent.

“We thought we could shoot the basketball,” coach LaVall Jordan said. “We did not shoot in nonconference that way. But there was always a belief, just watching guys every day in practice, that we could be a shooting team. Water finds its level, right.”

“Wish I had an answer. It’s got to be Hinkle Magic,” former Bulldog sharpshooter Darnell Archey said in a text message.

Two Division I records held by the Bulldogs are most 3s in a season per game, 5.64 by Fitzgerald in 1987, and consecutive free throws made, 85 by Archey from 2000-03.

There are other Butler entries in the NCAA tournament record book, notably 43 career 3s by Shelvin Mack and .600 career 3-point shooting by Campbell. They rank Nos. 2 and 4, respectively.

“Part of being here is you’ve got to embrace the culture and be a gym rat and get in the gym on your own,” Jordan said. “I think we have guys who do that. Then they get in with the assistant coaches and put in a ton of time.

“So there’s a lot of reps. With repetition, you get confidence, right?”

With Butler shooters, you get buckets.

Bulldog bits

Despite two defeats and a 17-9 record, Butler was 29th in voting for the Top 25 by The Associated Press. Butler is 20th in kenpom.com rankings. . . . In the Dec. 27 league opener, Butler rallied from a 20-point deficit to beat Georgetown 91-89 in double overtime. . . . Butler, which is 12-2 at home, plays its next three games at Hinkle. The Bulldogs are averaging 86.9 points a game at home, shooting 52 percent.

Call IndyStar reporter David Woods at (317) 444-6195. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidWoods007.